Locking device for trunks



May 31, 1927. M. H LUCE LocKINe DEVICE FOR mums 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Jan. 17. 1923 y M. H. LUCE LOCKING DEVICE FOR TRUNKSOriginal Filed Jan. 17. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Milt un- H-LucE y Mww/Reissuea Ma 31 1927.

urn'ron n. LUCIE, or

My invention relates to improvements in locking devices for trunks, andis particu; larly' applicable general type disclosed in Letters Patentof 5 the United States to'George H. Whea'ry,'No.

' 1,134,17 5, dated April 6, 1915, although it is also applicable toordinary trunks, such for example, as those disclosed in Letters Patentof the United States to said George H.

1 Wheary, No. 1,158,412, dated October 26,

1915, and to numerous other trunks in common use.

provide improved means whereby the mo- 1 tion of a movable memberassociated with a 7 key operated lock may be transmitted to one or moredistant locking members to automatically operate the latter, whereby theclosin and locking together of the parts of a trun at one point, willwithoutany attention on the part of the user'result in a doweling,bindingand locking together of trunk parts at one or more other points.p

Further objects of this invention are to provide means whereby motiontransmitting mechanism located within one section of a trunk may beutilized to operate locking devices located wholly or partially exteriorto the trunk walls to provide means whereby auxiliary locking devices,dependent for locking operations upon a movable member associated with amanually operable lock, may be automatically retracted when such movablemember is unlocked or retracted to provide means whereby the auxiliarylooking devices will eifectively draw the associated sections of thetrunk into binding relation with each other ;to provide auxiliarylocking devices which may be protected by suitable housings located inpart upon the interior face and in part upon the exterior face of theassociated wall. of a trunk section which the housing also reenforces;-to. provide means'whereby an auxiliary locking device, when released,will initially open or separate the parts controlled thereby; and ingeneral to provide auxiliary locking 'devices of he above described typewhich will not only be eflicient and durable under conditions of severeuse, but which will also be capable of use without reducing the capacityof the trunk, injuring its contents or UNITED STATES Original No.1,578,537, dated larch 30, 1926, Serial No. 618,136, Med January 17,1923. for reissue filed January 5, 1927. Serial No. 159,247.

to wardrobe trunks of the v The primary object of this invention is to vin any manner interfering with the use of,

LOCKING DEVICE FOR TRUNKS.

Application the trunk for any ordinary purpose or the proper packing orunpacking thereof.

As applied to wardrobe trunks, it is an obect ofmy invention to providemeans whereby all movable parts of the auxiliary lockingmechanism may bemounted upon or in the wardrobe section of the trunk, leavingthelnterior of the body section wholly free and unobstructed for thereception of packed fabrics or the operation of drawers or otherreceptacles within which clothing is to be packed. It is well known thatthe ordinary wardrobe'trunk has a body section which is usuallysubdivided by shelves, drawers or partitions into compartments withinwhich clothing may be packed or within some of wh ch articles may beplaced which would be 1n ured by compression or packing. One othersection, commonly termed the wardrobe section, is utilized to receivearticles of wearing apparel which may be su ended from hangers mountedupon suitab e su ports at one end of the trunk or section. t

KANSAS CITY, mrssormr, nssroivon To wnEAnY 'rmmx corrrun, or moms,wrscousm.

is desirable that the body section be wholly unobstructed by any movableor motion transmittingkparts or mechanisms for lock- I ing the trunsections together, inasmuch as such parts either occupy space exteriorto the drawers or other compartments and thereby reduce the capacity ofthe trunk body or allow the articles packedin the trunk body to contactwith and be injured by such movable parts. This invention,

therefore, contemplates a location of the movable connections for theauxiliary locking devices in the wardrobe section where suspendedclothing will bear onl lightly against the locking devices even i thelatter' are ex osedn In the rawings:-

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a wardrobe trunk equipped withmy improved lockin mechanism, the section bein drawn to a planetransverse to that which includes the meeting edges of the body andwardrobe sections.

Figure 2 is a view of a fragment of the wardrobe section showing myimproved locking mechanism applied to one side wall thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail'view of thelocking lever and associated catchplate.

Figure 4 is a top view of the locking lever showing the catch insectionon line 44 of Fi ure 3.

igure 5 is a'fragmentary view of the upper end of a wardrobe trunk,partly 1n elevation andpartly in section, showing a sli ht modification.igure '6 isan elevation of an ordinary trunk illustrating my inventionas applied a body section 1, a wardrobe section 2, and

housing 6. Thehousing 6 is provided'with Figure-1O is a view of the sameas seenfrom the inner side of the trunk wallx Like parts are identifiedby the same ref erence characters throughout the several v1ews.

F igure 1 shows a wardrobe trunk having a lid or cover section 3, allorganized and arranged substantially as disclosed in said former patentto George H. Wheary, No. 1,134,17 5. But in place of the locking mechanism disclosed in sai patent for holding the lower portions of thwardrobe section and body section together, I employ a locking lever 4which is fulcrumed at 5 within a end flanges 7and 8 which are secured tothe inner face offthe side wall 13 of the wardrobe section and theflange 8 has a semicylindrical offset portion 10 which forms a guidewayfor'the vertically disposed operatmg bar 11 and a partial enclosure fora coiled, compression spring 12, the lower end of which is anchored tothe bottom of the guideway 10 and the upper end of which isseatedagainst a bracket 13 carried by the bar 11..

.;=awith a'slot14 in which a The lower end of the bar 11 is provided pin15 carriedby the power-end of the lever 4 is'loosely en-- gaged. .Theother end of the lever is offset and-positioned within a notch .17formed in the supporting side wall 13 of-the wardrobe section 2 andthisvoffset portion of the lever is provided at its free endwith aprojecting a stud 18, preferably exterior to saidsection wall, butprotected byia housing plate or member 19 which may constitute anextension of the reenforcing corner-piece 20.

A housing 19 also forms a doweling pocket to receive a doweling catchplate 22 carried by the opposing'wall of thebody section 1. Thisdoweling catch plate-is provided with a curved slot 23adapted to receivethe stud portion of the trunk being showngin of the slot 23 is so formedthat the stud 18 may move with a wedging action thereon when the leveris swung to locking position,

thereby drawing the opposin side walls of the wardrobe section and-'bo ysection into binding pressure contact. The inner wall of i the slot 23is, also formed to receive the pressure of the. stud 18 while the leveris being swung from locking to unlocking position, whereby said opposingwalls may be initiallyseparated during this movement of the lockinglever.

The spring 12 tends to hold the bar 11 .in a raised position with theinner end of the lever 4 correspondingly raised and the outer or lookingend, with the locking stud'18, depressed to releasin position, 1.v e.,to a position with the stu% 18 withdrawn from the .doweling catch plate22. The lever 4 is swung to locking position by applying downwardpressure to the bar 11 and this downward pressure may be applied by thelid or cover section 3, preferably through a bracket 25 secured to theinner face of said section in a position to bear upon the upper end ofthe bar 11 and push said bar downwardly when the lid or cover section 3is swung to closed position. Said lid or cover section may be locked inclosed position as disclosed in-said former Patent No. 1,134,175, but asno specific locking mechanism is essential it is not deemed necessary toillustrate or describe it. It is obvious that as long as the lid orcover section is closed the bar 11 will be held in its depressedposition. And the arrangement is such that when the bar 11 is thusdepressed'the locking lever 4 will occupy a osition substantially asindicated by dot-te lines in'Figure 1 with the locking stud 18 near theupper end of the slot 23 in the catch plate 22, in which position theedges of the wardrobe section of the trunk will be in binding pressureengagement with the meeting edges or margins of the body section.

Guide clips 27 and 28 are preferably applied to the sidewall 13 of thewardrobe sec tion to hold the rod 11 in operating position.

In Figure, 5 the parts illustrated are identical with those illustratedin Figure 1, except that the looking bar-1'1 is made a little Ion er andthe lid section 3 is not provided wit the bracket 25. The top of the lidsection 3, therefore, bears directly upon the operating piece or bar 11.

In Figure 6 a trunk is illustrated with a body section 1 and a coversection 2" which may be takenjas representative of any ordinary trunk in-common use. The cover section is locked to thelbody section by anordinary key operated lock'h'aving a hasp 3* which correspondsfunctionally with the lid 3 shown in Figure 1 so far as the'inventio-nherein disclosed is concerned. The hasp 3f constitutes a swin 'ngmember, the motion of which is utiliz to actuate the operating piece ofbar 11* throu h means similar to that disclosed in Silk? former patentto Wheary No. 1,290,445, '1. e., through the curved lever arm disclosedin Figure 8 of the drawings of this application. The hasp is providedwith an ordinary locking barrel 39 which, when the hasp is in lookingposition, bears upon the free end of lever 35 and pushes the leverinwardly. Near its fulcrum the lever bears upon the end of the lockingbar 11 and pushes the same in opposition to the retractingspring 12,thereby'swinging the locking lever 4 into locking relation to thedoweling catch 22% In the structure disclosed -in Figure 6 the lockinglever l directly co-operates with the key operated lock to hold therespective ends I of the lid section 2 in contact with, the opposing mar"ns of the body section. One ey is, there ore,-utilized to lock the lidsection to'the body section at two widely separated points. x

If greater security in the fastening of the lid section 'is desired, thestructure illus- 'trated in Figures 7, 9 and 10 may be utilized.

In these views a trunk is illustrated in which the hasp 3" is centrallylocated and the looking barrel 39" is utilized to actuate two oppositelydisposed, curved levers 35 and 40,

I respectively. The lever 35" actuates an operbar- 11 inexactly thesamemanner atin as a ove described with reference toFigure 6, wherebythe locking lever 4 near one end of the trunk is actuated tolockingposition. The lever 40 similarly, but in the opposite directiontransmits motion through a sliding bar 11 to' a locking lever 4 locatednear the other end-of the trunk disclosed in Figure .7.

The lid of this trunk is, of course, provided with two doweling catches22* and 22 which are, respectively, engaged by the locking levers 4" and4. p

From the foregoing description of the modified forms disclosed inFigures 5, 6 and 7 it will be obvious that my invention is not limitedto-the use of any allyoperable swinging)mem r for actuating an op ratingpiece or ar, such as the bar 11, to transmit motion to the lockinglever. Any member of the trunk, such as the cover 3, which requires tobe manually operated or moved when closing the trunk may be uti lized toapply the necessary power to the operating piece 11 and transmit motion.,to

them together with binding pressure and not only release them when themanually operable member is moved to releasing POSI- articular manution,but automatically separate them initially to a suflicient extent toallow the user to grasp the separated margins and to open the body andwardrobe sections of the trunk without difliculty.

As applied to awardrobe trunk, my invention has the further advantageabove noted, viz, that all of the parts are located outside of the bodysection and all of the movable parts are located within or upon thewardrobe section. Also the locking mechanism per se is located at thelower end of the wardrobe section below the point reached by any'but thelongest garments 'to be suspended within said section, these lockingparts furthermore being housed in such a manner as to prevent them fromcatching in the fabric of any clothing contained in clothing beingcaught by the doweling catch v 22 and forced into the housing 19 orentangled with the stud 18.

I claim:

1. Trunk locking mechanism comprising the combination with the meetingmargins of two trunk sections, of a locking lever fulcrumed to the wallof one section, the adjacent margin of the section being recessed andsaid lever having an ofiset portion adapted for swinglngmovement 1n'saldreportion of the lever, and a co-operating 'cat'ch carried by theregistering wall member of the opposing trunk section.

cess, a locking device carried by the ofiset 2. Trunk locking mechanismcom rising the combination with trunk sections wall of one sectionadapted to serve as a dowelingmember, a housing on the opposing sidewallof the other section adapted serve as a doweling socket, a lockinglever within said last mentioned housing, fulcrumed thereto, and havingan offset portion in said doweling socket adapted to engage the dowelingcatch to lock the latter in said.

.within said last mentioned section, fulcrumed thereto and having anofisetportion in said doweling socket adapted to engage the dowelingcatch to lock the latter in said socket, a distant manually operablememher, and motion transmitting connections for utilizing its, movementin one direction to actuate said lever to locking position.

4. Trunk locking mechanism comprising the combination with trunksections havaving mating margins, of a fixed catch on the side ion ingmating margins, of a fixed catch on the side Wall of one sectionexterior to the inner surface of the wall, a lever fulcrumed to theopposing wall of the other section and having a projection adaptedtoiengage actuating member.

5. In a trunk locking mechanism, the combination with a trunk sectionwall provided with a recess, of a locking lever fulcrumed adjacent tosaid recess and having a working end portion ofifset into said" recessand provided with a locking projection, a sliding bar mounted upon theinner face of said section and having'slotted pivotal connection withone end of the lever, resilient means for normally holding the bar and1ever in unlocking position, and manually operable means for actuatingsaid bar to swing the lever into locking position. v

6. In a trunk locking mechanism, the combinationw'ith a trunk sectionwall provided with a recess, of a locking lever fulcrumed adjacent tosaid recess and having a working end portion ofl'set into said recessand provided with a locking projection, a

sliding bar mounted upon the inner face of said section and havingslotted pivotal connection -with one end of the lever, resilient meansfor'normally holding the baiand 1ever in unlocking position, manuallyoperable means for actuating said bar .to swing the lever into lockingposition, said manually operable means having a key-controlled lockadapted to hold the manually operable means and thereby the bar andlever inlocking position. I V

7. Trunk locking mechanism comprising the, combination withtrunkrsections having meeting margins, of a fixed catch on the side wallof one section, providing a curved slot,

'a lever fulcrumed to the opposing wall of the other section and havinga projection adapted to engage in said slot, motion transmittingconnections for actuating said lever to locking position from a distantpoint, and a=spring for retracting said lever when the actuatingpressure is relieved, said slot having curved margins adapted to beengaged by the projection on the lever and so formed.

as to draw the sections together when the lever. moves to lockingposition and to force them apart to some extent when the lever is movedto unlocking position. 8. In a trunk locking mechanism,the combinationwith a trunk section wall provided with arecess, of a doweling housingon one side of said recess, a. lever housing on the other side of saidrecess, a lever fulcrumed 9. In a trunk locking mechanism, theacombination with a trunk section wall provlded with a recess, of adoweling housing on one side of said recess, a lever housing on theother side of said recess, a lever fulcrumed within the lever housingand having a portion extending into the doweling housing, another trunksection provided with a catch adapted to enter the doweling housingwhen. the sections are closed together, said catch being adapted to beenga ed by said lever, together with a manua ly operable device forsecuring said sections together at a point distant fromsaid lever, andmeans for automatically tra nsmitting motion from the manually operablesecuring device to move said lever to lock-- ing position when thesecuring device is in securing position.

10. Trunk locking mechanism comprising the combination with a trunkhaving )1 body section, a wardrobe section, and a lid section adapted toclose one end of the wardrobe section, of means exterior to the bodysection andwardrobehection for doweling and locking said sectionstogether near-their lower ends, and lock actuating means with in theWardrobe section adapted to be actuated by the lid section intoloc'kingposition, together with means for automatically re.-

leasing the wardrobe section from lock end gagement with the bodysection when the lid section is raised.

1'1. Trunk locking mechanism comprising :the combination with a trunkhaving a body section, a wardrobe section, and a lid section adapted toclose one end of the wardrobe section, of a dowelin catch projectingfrom the lower end of the body section, a locking lever fulcrumed at thelower end of the wardrobe section, and adapted in one position to engagethe doweling catch, means for transmitting motion from the lid sectionto said locking-lever to move the same into such engagement, and meansfor automatically retracting the lever when the lid section is swung toopen position.

12. The combination with a wardrobe trunk having. a pair oif hingedlyconnected sections, one section having an open top closed by a movablecover, of co-operating locking elements carried by the hinged sectionsand actuating means for the locking elements carried by one section andnormally extending above the top thereof and in the path of the movablecover whereby movement of the cover to its closed position engages theactuating member to actuate the locking elements and lock the hingedsections closed."

13. In a 'wardrobe trunk having a pair ofhingedly connected sections, afixed top for one section and a movable lid for the other section which,when closed, secures the sections together adjacent their'tops, afixedlocking element carried by one section, a movable locking elementcarried by the other section and engageable with the fixed ele- I mentto lock the sections togethenadjacent their bottoms, an actuating membercarried ing an open top closed by a movable cover,

a substantially fixed locking element, a movable locking elementcooperating with the fixed element to secure the sections closed, meansnormally urging the movable locking element out of engagement with thefixed element, and an actuating-member being engaged by the movable topto-actuate thesame. Q

15. In a wardrobe trunk having a 'pair of sections hinged together, onesection having an open top closed. by a movable cover, a

- substantially fixed locking'element, a movable locking elementco-operating with the fixed element to secure the sections closed, meansnormall urging the movable locking element out o engagement with thefixed element, an actuating memberfor the movable locking elementandnormally lying within the path of but disconnected from the movabletop, whereby closing of the movable top engages the same with theactuating member to o erate the same and engage the movable lockingelement with the fixed locking element. Y

16. In a wardrobe trunk having a pair of sections hinged together, afixed top for'one section and a movable top for the other section, asubstantially fixed locking element, a movable locking elementco-operating with v the fixed element to secure the sections closed,

means normally urgingthe movable locking element out of engagement withthe fixed ele- 7, ment, an actuating member for the movable lockingelement and a part carried by the actuating member ahd extended to liewith- 'in the path of the movable top and adapted to be depressed by thetop when the same is closed. V

17. In awardrobe trunk having a air of sections hinged together, a fixedtop or one section and a movable top for the other, a

substantially fixed locking element carried by one section, a movablelocking element carried by the other section andcooperating with thefixed element to secure the sections closed means normally urging themovable locking element out of engagement with the fixed element, anactuating member for the movable locking element, and a member car-Iried by the movable top and engageable with the actuating memberwhen thetop is closed to move the same against the urging means and engage themovable locking element with the fixed locking element.

18. In a wardrobe trunk having a pair of hingedly connected sections anda movable top hinged to one section and movable over the other sectiontosecure the sections together at their tops, of a fixed locking meanscarried by one section, a movable locking means carried by the othersection and engaggeable with the fixed locking means to loo the sectionstogether at their bottoms, a housing carried by one sectionside wall andenclosing one locking means and "providing a doweling socket, the otherlocking means serving as a doweling member en aging in the dowelingsocket when the t sections are "closed, an actuating member carried bythe section mounting the'movable, locking means, and an operatingconnection between the movable locking means and the actuating member,said actuating member being actu ated by the movable top in closing toengage the movable locking means with the fixed locking means.

- 19. In a wardrobe trunk having a pair of hingedly c'onnectedsctionsand a movable top hinged to one section and movable over the other tosecure the sections adjacent their tops, of a fixed catch member carriedby one section, a movable catch member carried by the other section and,engageable with the fixed catch member to lock the sections adjacenttheir bot-toms, a housing carried by one section side wall and enclosingone of said catch members and, with a recess in the adjacent sectionside wall, form? ing a doweling" socket, the other member serving as adoweling member engaging in the doweling socket when the'trunk sectlonsare closed, and means operable by the closing of said movable top toengage the m ovab e catch member with the fixed catch member and securethesections closed.

20, In a wardrobe trunk having a pair of sections hinged together, amovable top carried by one section and overlying the other when closed,a. locking element carried by one section and a second locking elementmovabl carried by the other section and adapte to engage the former whenthe sections are closed, means normally urging the second lockingelement out of engagement with the first, and an actuating memberconnected with the second locking element and having its free end lyingwithin the path of the movable top whereby closing movement of the topdepresses the actuating member to lock said'sections together. i

21. In a wardrobe trunk having a pair of sections hinged together, amovable top carried by one section and overlying the other 7 when closedto lock the sections together at one end, locking means adjacent theother end of the sections and operable upon the closing movement of saidmovable top, said.

MILTON H. LUCE.

